Rumor Mill: Top Truck Series Driver Headed to RCR?
What’s Happening? NASCAR’s Silly Season is often a revolving door of drivers, with promotions and demotions causing a chain reaction throughout…
Front Row Motorsports revealed that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series veteran Chandler Smith will not return to the team’s No. 38 truck next season in a Tuesday morning post to their social media accounts.
At the time, FRM did not share any news about the future of the No. 38 truck after 2026; still, the news that Smith was moving on was not a major surprise to fans.
Rumors of Smith’s potential departure date back to last month, with most of the discussions surrounding the Series veteran suggesting he could be bound for a return to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
In particular, most rumors have tied Smith’s name to a ride with Richard Childress Racing.
While other names like prospect Carson Brown are also in the mix for a spot at the team, there is a chance both of the team’s iconic OAP Series rides could be open next season.
As of press time, RCR’s No. 2 is open for 2027 with Jesse Love signing with Wood Brothers Racing for his Cup Series Rookie Season.
That leaves the No. 21 as the other option, where most expect its long-time driver, Austin Hill, to race the No. 33 in the Cup Series for RCR in 2027.
Nonetheless, RCR has yet to announce the signing of Smith or the promotion of Hill to full-time Cup competition in 2027.
What’s Happening? NASCAR’s Silly Season is often a revolving door of drivers, with promotions and demotions causing a chain reaction throughout…
If Smith is truly on a path back to the OAP Series, be that with RCR or another team, there is a level of unfinished business for the 24-year-old.
In 2023, Smith moved from Toyota to Chevrolet to race with Kaulig Racing in the OAP Series. While he did not excel, he did nab his first OAP Series win before moving back to Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing for the following season.
During that 2024 season, Smith dominated for the majority of the season, scoring two wins and 22 top tens, but failed to make the Championship Four amidst rumors of his departure.
He ultimately moved back down to the Truck Series last season with FRM, where he brought home two wins, a mark he has already met with the No. 38 camp this season.
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